Ocular extramedullary myeloid cell tumour in children: An Indian study

Thirty-two children with extramedullary myeloid cell tumour (EMT) who const ituted 41 per cent of children with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) were stud ied to ascertain their laboratory characteristics and potential problems in diagnosis. The diagnosis, established by peripheral blood smear and/or bon e marrow examination, was AML (n = 29) and refractory anaemia with excess b lasts in transformation (RAEB-t; n = 3), The six referred patients in whom the diagnosis had been missed, and two cases wrongly reported as histiocyto sis on aspiration cytology, were those in whom a peripheral blood smear had not been examined, It is concluded that diagnostic work-up of proptosis mu st include a full haemogram, meticulous peripheral blood smear examination, repeated if necessary, and bone marrow examination where relevant. RAEB-t cases with extramedullary myeloid cell tumour should be classified as acute myeloid leukaemia.